Crafting with Acorns : :

Autumn walks are our favorite and this Fall at the nearby park we regularly visit, we noticed a significant number of acorns on the ground compared to previous years. One giant oak in particular has produced a massive number of acorns. Inspired to craft, we decided to fill a bag to bring home with us and today I thought I'd share our projects!



Most of the nuts had separated from the cupules, so the first thing we did was separate the parts. A bowl for those still completely intact, a bowl for nuts, one for the caps, one for the double caps - our favorites - and a garbage bowl for the cracked and holey. We washed and preserved them with a bake in the oven at 200 degrees for a of couple hours, just to remove any grubby stuff.



I must say I LOVE to craft, and I've missed the number of non-sewing projects the kids and I used to tackle together in years past. As they've grown older, their own imaginations and inspirations have lead them to do so much crafting on their own. While it's so fun to see what they come up with and makes me so proud to be their mama, there's nothing better than getting messy together!

Often times, for me, crafting = garland. But first, glitter! Once our acorns were preserved, Haila and I added gold to each cap. I controlled the glue, she handled the sparkle!





Pairing each nut with a suitable size cap become quite the matching game!

For the ornaments we used the cluster caps we found where two or sometimes three caps were still connected. Adding just a simple loop knot with twine so we can hang them!



For the garland we used twenty to thirty acorns per strand, running twine between each cap and nut before I connected them with hot glue.



So simple and I LOVE how these turned out!







I tried my best to capture how pretty the gold glitter is in the light, but still fell short. It's seriously magical!





This project was so much fun, even if it means cleaning up glitter from in between the floor boards yet again. Totally worth it, I promise!

♡ Maureen

A Fabric GIVEAWAY : :

It's Fabric Giveaway Friday!  

With over 15 years of experience in ecommerce, The Intrepid Thread is a family owned business employing 5 amazingly creative quilters and sewists. Julie, the owner, is dedicated to offering quality quilting fabrics at competitive prices and takes special pride in knowing her customers receive unparalleled service!
  
SHOP  *  BLOG  *  FACEBOOK
 

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

We hope you enjoy visiting The Intrepid Thread's sites!
 

For this week's Fabric Giveaway, Julie at The Intrepid Thread is offering a custom Fall Vibes Fat Quarter Bundle, including fourteen hand-picked, beautiful fall-inspired Art Gallery Fabric prints!!



Just a reminder that you can find my new collection Nightfall available right HERE in The Intrepid Thread Shop! Plus, there's a HUGE clearance sale happening now, be sure to check it out HERE -->  http://www.intrepidthread.com/shop/Clearance.htm

Enter to win! 

Here's how, 
 

 1. Simply leave a comment here under this post! We'd love to know which fabric collection from The Intrepid Thread's What's New Section you're most excited about!? (one entry)
2. Follow The Intrepid Thread on Facebook, their blog, Instagram, or sign up to receive their Newsletter. Just let me know that you did by making a separate comment here to record that entry. (optional extra entry) 

3. My followers get a third entry! If you follow here, on Instagram, or on Facebook just let me know by making a separate comment here to record that entry. (optional extra entry)

4. Help spread the word!! I know that many of you already do, so I thought it would be nice to add that as another way to enter! Whether by instagram, tweet, facebook, pin, blog, etc... (optional extra entry) 

That’s 4 possible entries! Enter now through Tuesday, October 11th! The winner will be picked at random and I will announce their name at the bottom of this post, here on the blog.

* Note * This giveaway is open to EVERYONE! If you're a "no reply" or anonymous commenter, please remember to include your email address in your comment!

A BIG thanks to all who entered our Giveaway! This week's lucky winner is commenter, Nancy!! Congratulations, I will be in touch shortly!  ♡ Maureen  

An Autumn Sun Quilt Top : :

One week ago I began work on this new quilt top with the colorful September landscape of goldenrod and sunflower fields as my inspiration!

I love this medley of yellow, orange, and brown in all their variations, and since this pattern is reminiscent of a sunbeam, I've decided to call this one my Autumn Sun Quilt!

It came together fast, using mostly Bonnie Christine collections and the quick hourglass block making method I use to create my favorite pillows that I share in issue 8 of Love Patchwork & Quilting magazine! After using this method with smaller cuts to create my scrappy hourglass quilt in Alison Glass Field Day fabrics with happy results, I've been waiting for the chance to try it again using larger pieces!

On Friday my Sweet As Honey backing and binding prints arrived from Art Gallery Fabrics -- Bed of Daisies in Nutmeg wound neatly on an empty spool of Aurifil!

And for this quilt back, a gorgeous amount of my favorite print -- Fly By Night!



I've boxed up this one, along with my Emmy Grace quilt top to be sent off to Sew Shabby Quilting today for some long arm loops and daisies!



I hope to have them back in time to finish and photograph at the same spots that inspired them!

Wishing happy September days to you!

♥ Maureen

Making Rows : :

Well, it certainly feels like I'm on a roll with these quilts and that feels so good! Late Friday night I spent about an hour beginning this new quilt project. I've changed directions with these particular fabric pulls several times already -- see here, here, and now here!



But, I've happily decided to settle on making rows. This is something I've wanted to do for awhile and I'm loving what I have so far!

A few pluses, some geese, and lots of 2.5" strips waiting to become something!





I'm using Denyse Schmidt's new Florence collection in the Carnelian colorway that I recently stashed from the Knotted Thread, combined with a few more Denyse & some Julianna Horner prints I picked up on a recent trip to JoAnn Fabrics, a Text Me Maybe Bundle from Stash Fabrics, and that lovely Kona Cotton Wine Cellar Colorstory Bundle. It's very Fall-ish don't you think?





I began this new quilt project with such a strong row of deep reds, blacks, & white, that it might be a little tricky to transition into all these oranges, but I think I can make it work. They're so beautiful!



Saturday we spent the day unplugging at one of our most favorite places -- Allegany State Park. We hiked, played in the creek, and fished. It was wonderful! I brought along a new handwork project, which I plan to share tomorrow, and my sketchbook!



While Kevin fished and the kids jumped from rock to rock, I planned out my next few more rows.



Today, with this gorgeous image fixed in mind as inspiration, I'm super excited to continue this new quilt work-in-progress!



♥  Maureen

Felty Things : :

There's something about the imminent Fall weather that makes sewing with felt so soothing to me. I love it! Each year around this time, I feel this strong pull shifting my crafty mind to sewing projects of all kinds using colorful, cozy wool blend fiber. See!











Handmade goodness galore, there is just so much to make with felt! Plus you know I'm always busy making my Birthday Crowns!

SO, I thought I'd have a little felt sale in my etsy shop now that the kids are back in school in case you have some felty-sewing-crafty ideas of your own! Just use coupon code "FELT20OFF" to receive the 20% discount on any felt purchase!


Here's a look at the colors I carry!





I will also be including your choice of either a fabric scrap pack or felt scrap pack with each order!! Just specify which you'd prefer in the comment section when you order!





And, be sure to check out my Pinterest board "Just For Felt," which includes many of my own felt projects and a growing list of great felt-y inspiration!!   ♥  Maureen

An Autumn Garden Flower Crown : :

Yesterday was my birthday-crown-making-day. I finished up my last two orders and decided to make a few new ready-to-ship flower crowns for my etsy shop, in Autumn colors with Fall birthdays and Halloween costumes in mind. Boy these days are flying by! I shared a tutorial for making these felt flower crowns here, only this time I changed out the buttons for hand-stitched details.

Once I finished, myself and one new Autumn Garden Flower Crown waited for my girl to get home for picture taking...



And, then we had ourselves a little photo shoot!















It was perfect and so much fun just following her around, snapping pictures as we walked about the yard! It took me right back to our Little Red photo shoot, almost one year ago. September is always such a wonderful reminder of how everything is always changing.

Wishing Happy Early Autumn days to you!! ♥,  Maureen 

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _